All In The Words

Belated happy 40th birthday to the Internet

2009-09-03T10:42:00.006+01:00

Yes our friend the Internet was 40 yesterday so it seems only fair that we wish it a happy birthday as it seems to have given us so much.

We all thought it was much younger than that because its so down with the kids and up with the times but we guess the secret to eternal youth is hanging around with younger people.

Either that or there's been some serious surgery going or its signed a pact with the Devil.

We could go on about all the great things the Internet has done and how its made life much easier but it does have its bad points, such as slowly turning us into a race of sedentary, impatient lard-arses, but no-one's perfect.

By the way - we don't think it's too popular because hardly anyone's written anything about it or sent them a message like us!

Love and hate

Wait for the next couple of days though as all its friends in the media play catch-up and come grovelling en masse for its attention with a plethora of rapturous proclamations outlining their love-hate relationship with it.

Anyway, it all began on September 2, 1969, when two computers passed some meaningless data to each other through a 15-foot grey cable (not much has changed when you think about it!) at the University of Californian in Los Angeles (and only in LA!).

At least Metro.co.uk didn't forget - unlike it's much bigger brothers and sisters out there in Newsland - and you can catch up with its own congratulations by reading Happy birthday to the internet - 40 today.

However, it might be lying about its age and could be a little bit younger if you listen to the Telegraph and read its Internet celebrates 40th birthday: but what date should we be marking?

We'll leave you to decide but no-one's going to admit their older than you think they are - are they?

Well the secret's out and we're already in it's bad books as we're a day late in sending out our congrats - but hey we've been busy and you should have let us know about your big day if you wanted a party!

Besides, it's the thought that counts.

Web terms explained: No. 1 - URL

2009-09-03T08:00:00.013+01:00

The main problem with being a non-IT person in a web-dominated world is that no-one seems to be able to speak an English which you can actually fully understand.

So as part of our mission to provide simple advice on working with the web this and subsequent posts will attempt to define some of the more popular Internet terms and what use they are to you.

There is a reason why everything webified has a complicated name and it mainly has to do with the two following sets of people:

IT professionals - Collectively known as Boffins, Geeks, Spods, IT departments and web designers. It's not their fault but, due to the nature of their work, IT pros aren't the best at communicating anything and that includes giving something a simple name.
Web professionals - Slightly different from your average IT person as they don't communicate in purely IT terms but instead frequently employ the other evil of over-bearing marketing-speak hence the rise of catch-all titles such as "Web 2.0, Web 3.0" ad infinitum* and "social media" etc.

They tend to do this in an attempt to sound clever and package things in way which makes what they do sound more important and ultimately make them and their industry more money.

Many will disagree with the above and there are many IT people who don't fall into the above category but, let's be honest, there's a reason stereotypes exist and it's because they're usually accurate.

But we can moan on and on forever about the failures of the IT industry to explain itself to the great unwashed but hopefully this series of posts will dish the dirt on the confusing language they use.

Perfect example

So let's get to today's subject - URL which stands for "Uniform Resource Locator" and is a perfect example of using a complicated term when there's a much simpler alternative which everyone understands... "web address".

For the purposes of those not involved directly in IT that's what a URL is - it's a web address, your www. or simply put your website address.

Every web meeting has stumbled along for a minute after someone in the IT crowd has uttered these three magic letters to the plebs gathered before them.

And you can bet some brave plebian will eventually piped up with the question: "What's a URL?" to be answered: "That's another word for web address" after which everyone can get back to knowing what everyone else is on about.

Technically-speaking a URL is made up of a combination of other things such as a scheme name, IP address and other stuff but thankfully we're not talking technically so you can ignore most of that.

Domain name

However, it makes sense to be interested in the domain name section of a URL which is the "www.amazon.com/" bit in between the "http://" and other words and symbols used after the end "/".

If you can imagine that every website is like its own street on the web, the domain name is effectively the name of its street.

Subsequently, all the pages on a site can be seen as the houses in that street with the information which comes after the ".com/" being their exact addresses on that street.

The only thing a non-IT person needs to be interested in when it comes to web addresses, and the domain name it contains, is whether makes sense so they can easily read, understand and find it and whether the web address works.

If you're a business and trying to come up with a web address for your organisation then the domain name is something which you need to pay attention to and you need to make sure of the following:

The domain name within your chosen web address makes sense in terms of your business - That is, it either contains your name or words which relate to the services you provide.

For example, if you run Thomas' Cheese Shop in Caerphilly then a good web address would be www.thomascheeses.com or www.caerphillycheeseshop.com.
You, and you alone, own the domain name and web address you decide upon - Always ensure that when you buy a domain name or web address that you end up owning it and not the web developer.

Some unscrupulous companies will say they are buying a web address, or domain name, in your name but in fact they don't - which can lead to all sorts of complications down the line - so ensure you own the .com or .co.uk or .net address you're buying outright.

Finally, the only other thing you need to ensure about a web address is that it's working and it will not work for one of three main following reasons:

The web address has been misspelt so when you try and find it on the web you're being sent to the wrong address in much the same way as dialing a wrong telephone number.
The website or web page the web address is trying to send you to no longer exists in much the same way as going to a real address and finding the building has been knocked down.
Something has gone wrong with your own computer or the computer where the website and its web address is stored in much the same as finding out your phone or someone else's phone is broken.

That's pretty much all you ever need to know about web addresses from a non-IT, practical and business point of view - anything else is just going to widen you technical sphere of knowledge which isn't that essential.

However, if you're an IT or web professional reading this please try and take some of the above into account as it will help the laypeople you frequently speak to actually understand and come to like you.

Bullshit Bingo

No-one really likes anyone who speaks in initials, acronyms, abbreviations and buzzwords they don't understand as they generally come across as arrogant smart-arses.

The only thing this sort of trendy industry-speak has ever achieved is mass confusion, ridicule for those who utter and write this nonsense and the advent of Bullshit Bingo - also known as Buzzword Bingo in more sanitised surroundings.

Believe it or not - people just like to be told things in a straightforward manner in language they understand and blinding them with science helps no-one at all - especially yourself.

If you want to find our more about anything contained above, someone to steer you past all the web jargon or you just completely disagree with anything written above, please feel free to leave a comment or contact us on 0845 833 5436 or via email at mail@allinthewords.co.uk.

* You'll notice there are a lot of links to Wikipedia in our posts and that's because it's a very good source of information despite all the rumours to the contrary about it being inaccurate.

It is very good place to find definitions for anything to do with IT and the web - as is the excellent Webopedia.

Both of them have the following in-depth more technical definitions of what a URL is - Wikipedia - Uniform Resource Locator and Webopedia - URL.

A good explanation of Wikipedia's high level of accuracy can be found in Econsultancy's Wikipedia has 97% of the online encyclopedia market article.

By the way, Econsultancy is another good place to find out information about the web and we recommend you subscribe to its regular mailouts).

Writing: ABC's not as easy as 123

2009-09-02T08:00:00.018+01:00

Why does everyone think that writing is as easy as simply tapping your thoughts out on a keyboard?

Nearly every web copywriting or "how to write a website in one easy step" article you read on the Internet suggests you can create the usual "killer copy" in 10 seconds flat by simply logging on to your computer.

If the people writing these articles faced facts they'd realise no-one even knows what "copy" means let alone the "killer" type.

Say "killer copy" to most people and they'd probably think you're talking about some sort of psychotic printer which has sprung to life to inflict revenge on office workers for all the whacks it's taken during its lifetime, à la Stephen Kings' Christine.

Writing stuff

And we won't venture into what people think a copywriter does - simply put copywriting involves writing stuff and copyrighting protects something from unauthorized use and involves all sorts of legal things.

Let's face it - if the general public can't tell the difference between these things, or even understand what some so-called "writers" write, then what hope have they of mastering the written word in 10 easy steps or less.

Sadly, the rise of the blog and Internet has given people the idea that just because it's now easy publish something to the world - the actual art or science behind it can't be that hard either.

This idea is usually pushed by some marketing type masquerading as an "Honest John" expert who wants you to come to their web writing seminar for 1400 bucks or buy their easy-to-read, 79-point guide to copywriting for the introductory price of $179 (why are they never in £s?).

Nothing is easy

But let's face it - since when has something that takes 79 points to explain been easy to read and no-one really enjoys seminars that much.

Take Read Write Web's post Got an iPhone? With Fwix, You Can Be a Reporter which suggests a new iPhone app can turn you into a local journalist overnight by allowing you to contribute to online news - citizen journalism if you will.

It's like saying... "Buy surgical equipment, scrub down your kitchen with copious amounts of Dettol and you're all set for carrying out open-heart surgery!"

Or... "Buy a really fast car, cordon off your street and set up your own racing circuit!".

Need it be explained that both these suggestions are fraught with danger and would end up in certain death for someone, legal complications and long-term jail-time.

Artistic licence

We tend to give doctors and Formula 1 drivers their due and realise they have learnt their art while with web writing no such thing exists.

When it comes to the online word, people are given the idea that it's like one big X Factor audition where everyone can actually sing and you can't make a fool of yourself.

Sadly, this is not the case and there is much more to writing words online than just typing something out and pressing a button to publish it.

But let's get back to the Got an iPhone? With Fwix, You Can Be a Reporter article and break down the ideas it contains.

For a start - why would you want to be a journalist? It's badly paid and no-one reads news any more anyway.

You're no Superman

Journalism is not about being Clark Kent and uncovering exciting stories alongside Lois Lane - much like these two characters most people's perception of the Fourth Estate is also fictional.

Finding and writing stories is long, hard work and most of what you read in papers is spurned by press releases rather than any sort of intrepid investigation.

And who wants to find out about what's happening locally and be a citizen journalist anyway?

Most of us don't even know or are interested in our neighbours and unless you live in Metropolis with Clark and Lois not much is happening in your neck of the woods anyway.

It's hard enough to be a citizen without even to begin writing about it.

But let's not turn this into the "death of journalism" read Nick Davies' Flat Earth News if you want to find out about that.

Magic wand

Then there's this whole idea that everyone with an iPhone can use it like some magic wand and with one wave of the right app turn into an expert of whatever it is they are doing.

People should remember - the clever people are the ones who invented the iPhone not the ones who use them.

This has been succinctly summed up by comedian Marcus Brigstocke who at this year's Edinburgh Festival* said:

"To the people who've got iPhones: you just bought one, you didn't invent it!"

Like every web appliance, it might allow you to do something easily but it's up to you to ensure that you make that something worthwhile by doing a good job.

And this is where we come back to the original point of this post - writing for the web isn't as easy as buying a guide, going to a one-day seminar or downloading an iPhone app - there's much, much more to it.

No harm done?

Granted - if you get it wrong you're not going to end up killing someone, like a would-be doctor or Lewis Hamilton would, but it's not a case of no harm done.

You will look stupid - jus a couple of speling mitsakes wil do that - and if you're writing for a business or other organisation it will cost you customers, money and your reputation.

Writing for the web is very important and there is a whole world of information out there to teach you about it - but you can't master it all in one, two or even three easy steps.

Like any skill, it takes time to master, some will be better than others and some won't get it at all.

Foolish advice

The advice we wanted to leave you with is not think that ABC is as easy as 123 and paying for an online guide, or using the latest gadget to publish to make it so, is just as foolish as sending money to the latest Nigerian oil or banking magnate.

You might not like it but the best thing you can do is talk to a professional to either teach you the trade of do it for you.

We won't cheapen the idea behind this post by blatantly and openly offering our services so feel free to contact any web copywriter out there for advice.

They might not be as good as All In The Words but they'll be better than nothing.

PS: Just to help spread the word about the ongoing end of the newsprint era, the foolishness of iPhone users and what good writing actually looks like please, please, please read Charlie Brooker's recent You know what'll save newspapers? Magic coins article.

* Top Ten Jokes at Edinburgh Festival

Developments with web developers and searching for SEO

2009-06-07T14:28:00.005+01:00

Once again the curse of the ill-educated web developer and self-appointed SEOs has struck.

Without naming names - we have recently come across yet more web and SEO cronies who have been charging the Earth for effectively nothing - or at least very little.

We're not strictly web developers ourselves but know what HTML and PHP to tweak in order to rearrange a page and where to insert bits and pieces of code and Javascript in order to set up what you need on a site.

We've had to wait days for one gang to install some simple Google Analytics script and Webmaster Tools and were advised by someone else to follow a very complicated procedure in order to do the same on another.

Complicated workflow

The reason given for both was that they had very complicated PHP database driven sites but in effect this makes little or no difference to entering these codes - with one explaining how the asked for work had to be inputted into their "workflow".

When someone tells you that for what should effectively be 20 minutes work then you know it's going to cost you.

Thankfully neither of these web developers, (who also host the respective websites we have alluded to) charged our clients for the work so no harm done.

Saying that - one also expressed to have inside knowledge on search engine optimization and was charging £50 a month for services under something it called its SEO contract.

SEO strategy?

However, a simple glance over the site concerned showed that little or nothing had been done to improve its search engine ranking with a distinct absence of on-page SEO, keyword-laden Page Titles and external links to the actual site.

This company laughingly based its SEO services around asking our joint client to supply three keywords which seemingly formed the basis and the whole of their planned SEO strategy.

We're not sure but unless you're working in Zebra Cleaning Services in central Birmingham then a trio of words is just not enough to make your site stand out if you ask us.

Amazingly, alongside they also promised to set up a host of "meaningful" external links to the site as part of a link-building campaign but with a little Google know-how this was also found to be sadly lacking.

It seems the SEO contract the client had signed up to basically constituted being sent a monthly email of site statistics without any search engine interpretation or contact outside of that.

Warning to the unwise

You'll have to forgive us but we understand the importance of statistics within SEO but without interpretation they are just numbers and have no meaning whatsoever.

There are two(or so) warnings we want to send out to you on the back of these too often repeated experiences:

Always find out whether a prospective web developer knows what they are doing and find out what they will charge for if they are going to host your site.
Don't sign up to anything under SEO unless the people you are planning to use have sat you down and explained how it works (believe us - it ain't rocket science at most levels).

If they can't do this then they don't know what they are doing and you should flee the scene as quickly as possible.

On this last point - if they ask you to provide all the keywords and don't come up with a list of their own, get your running shoes on, and if they never bother talking to you after you've signed on the dotted line, again start lacing up and looking for the exits.

If you've been having similar troubles with your web developers or SEO, or are one and completely disagree with anything written above, please feel free to leave a comment or contact us on 0845 833 5436 or via email at mail@allinthewords.co.uk.

NB: If you're a developer or SEO and do contact us to complain please be aware that we will set you straight as we all know all the above goes on far too much.

However, if you're looking for help then be assured we have very sympathetic ears and will do our best to share and then cure your recent pain and suffering.

Say no to 'Kick-ass' and 'Killer' web copy

2009-05-26T17:50:00.004+01:00

Not a week goes by without the All In The Words inbox being invaded by the promise of being able to learn how to write kick-ass or killer web copy.

It's also amazing that all this can be easily achieved within 10 simple steps and by parting with just a few dollars.

But before you decide to embark on your relatively quick journey to becoming an overnight online copywriter just think about what you are doing.

First of all, ask yourself - Do you really want to write "kick-ass" or "killer" copy?*

It's a well-known fact that salespeak and marketese don't work when it comes to selling anything online and if you fail to see that 'kicking-ass' with your copy will no doubt 'kill' something then maybe you should think again.

Finding a voice

When it comes to writing for the web as much attention needs to be paid to the 'voice' within your writing as anything else.

By "voice", we mean the tone which you set by your choice of words and it should always be remembered that the most successful web copy is that which mimics our own real-life conversations.

Most web pages should answer the same questions you would face from a customer over the phone or in the flesh.

In this respect, you can consider a web page as being a literary version of your own real-life customer conversations and just think - do you think anyone would stay on the line long or talk to you for more than two minutes if you instantly starting rabbiting on about ass-kicking and killing?

If you started spouting such arcane, hackneyed sales talk you'd be talking to thin air or dead line within no time.

Practice makes perfect

What would-be web copywriters or website owners need to understand is that writing good copy does not come in 10 easy steps.

Writing is a skill which needs to be mastered with a lot of practice and when it comes to the web it involves a lot more areas of expertise than just knowing how to spell and when to use a full-stop.

Providing good web copy has as much to do with its layout and formatting as anything else and so an innate knowledge of web usability comes in very useful.

For example, if the sentence you are writing adds up to more than 35 words then you might want to rethink what you're trying to say.

Why? Because such a sentence is probably too long and if you can't say what you want in anything less then it ain't worth saying.

Consistency is key

And formatting has as much to do with using consistently-sized fonts across your site as ensuring that your words line up left and ragged right on each and every page.

Remember, no-one likes to read centred or justified text which is Arial size 14 on one page and then Verdana size 10 on another.

The words you come up with also have to skillfully incorporate the relevant keywords mirrored by their use in each web page's various meta tags, headlines and sub-headings.

This is where knowing a trick or two about search engine optimization (or search engine optimisation), aka SEO, helps a lot.

If you really want to know a bit about how to writing well for the web invest your money wisely and look at purchasing Steve Krug's Don't Make Me Think or Ginny Redish's Letting Go Of The Words.

They're about the same price, if not cheaper, than their kick-ass and killer alternatives but unfortunately have more than 10 tips to pass on so will take a bit longer to read.

Mastering an art

As more and more people are starting to realise, there is a lot more to writing successful web copy than meets the eye and it can't really be done in 10 steps.

It takes time, experience and more than a bit of general website expertise in order to master the art of writing consistently good web copy.

But then again - if you wish to kill and kick-asses with your copy then there's still a few people out there who will fall for anything and you'll find some success somewhere.

After all the world wide web is a very big place and there's room for amateurs and professionals alike.

If you're not in a rush and more interested in writing than killing and kicking then please feel free to leave a comment or contact us on 0845 833 5436 or via email at mail@allinthewords.co.uk.

* In order to avoid embarrassment to0 the kick-ass and killer web copywriters of this world no links have been included in order to protect their identities. After all - everyone knows who they are!

How to lose friends and gain a web professional

2009-05-20T18:41:00.026+01:00

When it comes to websites too many people and businesses don't do their research and take the easy and often wrong options.

Too often they rely on a friend-of-a-friend, a relative or the first IT company they come across to carry out the work they think they want without ever first finding out what they actually need.

In the small amount of time All In The Words has been involved in the web industry, we've been astonished to find some of the things that routinely go on between web industry insiders and Jo and Joe Public.

We're yet to come across a website which has been professionally-built and is fit-for-purpose or seen a site constructed on the back of some sort of family or friendly favour which has not backfired in one way or another.

The problems witnessed in the aftermath of the sites built by people who should know what they are have sometimes been staggering.

Costly mistake

For example, one nine-page website was three months late with the customer finally handed a bootleg copy of Adobe Contribute CS3 (complete with felt penned title on the CDR it came on) and no instructions on how to use it. And all for £5,000.

Clients have been duped into overpaying for website technology which wasn't even paid for, or worse still, which they don't and never will need.

Amazingly, the majority of web developers completely neglect to tell clients that they need to think long and hard about having a site because the days of "build it and they will come", a la Field of Dreams is long gone.

Rarely do developers hint to clients that they will need to look at and appreciate the ongoing importance of search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM) in order to run a successful site or online business.

No explanation is given to the extra costs in terms of time and resources which all website bring to a business or that these can often be greater than that laid out on the initial website build.

Waiting game

Instead, developers generally just seem to build their customers' sites (usually without bothering to ask about what they either really want or think they need) and then walk away leaving their newly created former clients to sit back and wait for nothing to happen.

Oh! And don't forget that new owners are never explained the basics behind the domain name registration and web hosting systems or how they can go about changing their sites in the future.

In terms of updating site content, CMS might as well stand for Certified Master Safecracker instead of Content Management System for the bemused client.

Outside of operating their new programme customers are left to find out everything abouts words on website on their own without even a helpful prod in the direction of something as helpful, illuminating and easy-to-read as Steve Krug's Don't Make Me Think.

Nada. Nothing. Butkiss. Zilch. "Here's that website you ordered.....Bye-eeeee! See ya! Ta Ta Forever Now!"

Just for Christmas

It's like building someone a car, handing them the keys and not mentioning that it might be handy to pick up a Highway Code and get some driving lessons and that the vehicle comes with a free dog which actually is just for Christmas.

And let's not get started on the arguments which have torn apart friendships and soured family relations after someone who someone "knows" has been called and relied upon to build them a website or sorts.

Never forget the saying "don't mix business and pleasure" - there is some truth to it as one thing can so easily effect another.

Would you get your best friend or cousin who knows roughly how to mix some cement, change a tap, fix a plug and wallpaper a lounge to build your house?

Of course you wouldn't! So why do it with a website when it's going to be the place where your business will live for the rest of the world wide web to see.

Snap decisions

All too often people and businesses make snap decisions about who should build their websites based upon fear-of-the-unknown and not having enough money.

But believe it or not websites and web technologies aren't that hard to understand and need not cost the Earth.

When it comes down to employing a professional don't be afraid to ask questions about what they will do for you and how they are going to do it.

All computer systems, the Internet included, are based upon logic and if the person you are looking at employing can't or won't simply explain to you what it is they are up to - RUN AWAY!!

There's nothing in IT that can't be explained but a lot of the so-called 'professionals' really don't know their arses from their elbows or their backs from their fronts.

Doorstep selling

How many times have you been in a meeting with an 'IT expert' and been told calmly "I'll get back to you on that".

This is code for "I don't know what the Hell I'm doing and I'll have to sift through a really big doorstep-sized instruction manual to find you a suitable answer which will take me about eight hour to explain because I know about just as much as you!"

There's nothing wrong with not knowing an answer but if they try to hide this by using a combination of the words back, will, you, I and get - don't trust 'em as far as you can chuck 'em!

However, if they say "I don't know and I'll find out for you" then that is probably fine because sometimes IT can be complicated in terms of working out answer.

So as long as they come back with a simple explanation which you can understand then you know you've found a winner.

Guess work

Don't forget to ask your would-be web pro for details of their past customers and a contact name and number - don't rely on just looking at their newly built website to guess whether a good job's been done.

The finished product is just one side of the story and always ask whether the project was delivered on time and to cost and what the working relationship was like between client and provider.

There's nothing worse than clashing on an web project as the arguments will almost always end up wrapped in IT jargon which doesn't help anybody and always leads to lost time, money and lots of confusion.

And when it comes to costs, then with websites, sometimes you've just got to bite the bullet and make in investment.

How do

If you want something flash for your website then appreciate that you will have to pay for it, but also understand that sometimes simple and straightforward solutions are always cheaper and work just as well.

Web users aren't generally bothered about how things work, they're more interested in things that do work and work well, which usually means humdrum and a bit boring but useful.

We recently heard of an accountants who are regularly putting out an accounting podcast via their site, on the advice of some web professional, without even bothering to find out whether their customers wanted it or even contemplating that it was probably the most boring idea since the unsuccessful video release of "How To Watch Paint Dry II - Matt v Gloss".

Proper job

If you can't afford to pay for a really good website then don't pay a geeky friend or long-lost IT junkie uncle next to nothing to try and achieve the same results - more often than not they won't, upsetting you, them and any future Christmas parties in the process.

Instead, manage your expectations. Start off with something simple or just save up or find the money to pay for someone to do the job properly.

If you don't - you'll only end up spending more in the long run as you'll have to bring in someone like All In The Words to sort out the mess for you.

We're not your friends, we're not your family and we're not cheap but we're professional, won't make things complicated and if we don't know the answer to your question we'll find out for you.

If there's anything you want to ask or if just plain disagree with anything we've said here please feel free to leave a comment or contact us on 0845 833 5436 or via email at mail@allinthewords.co.uk.

Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and Blogger.com - Think before you tweet, connect, poke or post

2009-04-23T16:40:00.001+01:00

Everybody can't stop talking about how social networking is the key to creating and building a modern and successful business as they are free and so easy to use.

Unfortunately, this isn't necessarily the case as like a lot of things connected to IT and business there's a lot more to tweeting, connecting, poking and posting than meets the eye.

This is because before you take on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and Blogger.com you need to ask yourself a two simple questions to find out if any of them actually suit you and your business.

The first is - Why? Is using social networking really going to help you and your business?

A lot of people have set themselves up with a profile on each of these social networking applications without even knowing what they are, what they do and how they can help their companies.

Complete mess

In much the same way that everyone in business decided they had to have a website once the Internet took off a decade ago - the same is happening again when it comes to setting up on social networking sites.

If you take a quick look over the majority of business websites you'll see that 90% them have made a complete mess of them.

Most are out of date, impossible to use and make sense of and rarely provide customers with the information they actually need - like a simple address or phone number.

Sure having a website and getting yourself set up a social networking site is fine but before you jump into their deep end you have to ensure that what you are doing has a purpose and they can help you at all.

For example, having a profile of your painting and decorating business on Facebook or Linkedin may help drag in some business but do people really want to read about paint drying and wallpaper via a blog.

Working 9 to 5

Similarly, will Tweeting about the ins and outs and minutiae of your working day as an accountant, from entering the office in the morning and making your first cup of coffee through to logging off at end of business, actually interest anyone apart from yourself?

Or would you be better using Twitter to comment on what you think about the latest New Labour Budget?

Whatever you decide - for social networking (and websites for that matter) to be successful, you have to work out what you want to do and ensure there's someone out there who wants to find out what you've got to say or offer.

Essentially, you have to work out some sort of strategy and offer something which helps you find people and customers.

If you don't work out what each of these applications can do for you then you're just wasting your own and everybody else's time.

Up to the task

Remember, if you don't use social networking media the way your meant to, i.e. to communicate something of interest to the world, and match this to your business then they won't work for you at all.

Secondly, you have to ask yourself - Do I have the time and skills to make social networking a success for my business?

Sending out a round of daily tweets, pokes, posts and business updates over the Internet does take a lot of dedication and time.

And will you really have the opportunity to reply to everyone who gets in touch as a result of the information you've put out there on the net?

There's nothing worse in the eyes of a customer or potential business contact than an unanswered email or an out-of-date profile or neglected blog.

Shakespeare v Gates

Are you a Luddite or a budding Bill Gates? Does technology get you in a tangle or are you comfortable with replying via your Blackberry and updating from your iPhone.

And finally, can you actually write something which is interesting?

We're not asking about whether you're the next Shakespeare but when you write does it actually make grammatical sense, can you spell and does it take you two hours or two seconds to write a sentence?

The answers to these questions should point you in the right direction and make it clear whether social networking is for you.

Sometimes businesses and their services just aren't suited to everything which the world of the web has to offer and word-of-mouth, face-to-face networking and knocking on doors and cold-calling are still the way forward.

The professionals

Sometimes people just aren't suited to social networking either because they don't have the necessary IT and literary skills.

There's nothing wrong with either of these situations and there's no need to feel left out instead you could do the sensible thing and just get in a professional.

Or if you're determined to conquer Twitter et al yourself, get yourself trained up on everything they have to offer.

Whatever you decide to do - the first thing to do is think before you tweet, connect, poke or post as more often than not you could end up letting yourself in for more than you had bargained for.

If there's anything you want to know more about in terms of social networking or if just plain disagree with anything we have to say please feel free to leave a comment or contact us on 0845 833 5436 or via email at mail@allinthewords.co.uk.

Let's start at the very beginning

2009-04-20T01:03:00.004+01:00

The aim of this blog is to give a straightforward insight into the world of the web and simplify the workings of it for those who want to use it.

Essentially, the Internet, the Net, the Web, or whatever you want to call it, is a tool which we should all be able to use to work with one another.

This applies to everyone from private individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through to charities, multi-nationals and any other type of organisation.

This is because websites and web technologies, when used correctly, can be cost-effective, easy to use and offer a very clear channel of communication compared to other alternatives.

Simple advice

Unfortunately, too many people misunderstand this concept and are missing out on the benefits the web can bring because they don't ask the correct questions or are not provided with the right answers when they do.

We aim to rectify this situation by proving simple and straightforward advice on how the web works and how it can bring success to you, your business or whatever purpose you need it for.

Through our blog we want to will help unravel and explain what the web can really do for you by providing easy-to-understand explanations of all the jargon which confronts everyone who comes across IT, by interpreting web news and views and by offering our own take what's happening on the Internet

Web library

The hope is that over time our posts will build into a helpful library of web information which you can use and refer to when needed and at the same time drum up a bit of business for the company behind it - coincidentally enough also called All In The Words.

This in itself is the first lesson which we can offer - don't try and dress things up when it comes to talking to anyone via the web.

Honesty is always the best policy when it comes to the Internet because if you lie then you'll always end up getting found out in the end - but that's something to go into at a later date.

In the meantime, if there's anything which we write which you fail to understand, want to know more about or just plain disagree with then please feel free to leave a comment or contact us on 0845 833 5436 or via email at mail@allinthewords.co.uk.